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Celebrating Christmas in China
The China Teaching Web ^ | 12/19/2008 | Robert Vance

Posted on 12/18/2008 7:13:34 PM PST by robertvance

A headless angel and a missing ‘Baby Jesus’ were the casualties sustained by my nativity scene set after it was shown to nearly 1,000 Chinese students during Christmas a few years ago. Of course, what did I expect? I allowed students to ‘carefully’ handle the figurines because I wanted them to better understand the Christmas story that I was telling them. Unfortunately, some of the students were not quite as ‘careful’ as I would have liked...

(Excerpt) Read more at teachabroadchina.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: china; christmas; communism; prc

1 posted on 12/18/2008 7:13:34 PM PST by robertvance
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To: robertvance

Pathetic. (the china bashing)


2 posted on 12/18/2008 7:25:26 PM PST by Dr. Marten (http://obamaclock.org/)
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To: Dr. Marten

Come again? Where is there China bashing?


3 posted on 12/18/2008 7:28:20 PM PST by robertvance
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To: robertvance
"While Christmas has become more popular in China even during the last few years, it has been stripped of its religious significance and is generally celebrated as a materialistic holiday..."

My experience in Beijing 2000. On December 1st the decorations went up, including Christmas trees decorated in red and gold (and hotel barmaids in short-skirted "Santa" costumes), and signs & decorations in the stores. Very similar to what you'd see in the U.S.

4 posted on 12/18/2008 7:38:23 PM PST by sionnsar (Iran Azadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY)|http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/|RCongressIn2Years)
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To: Dr. Marten; robertvance

I saw no China bashing in the article. Stating known facts, and reminding the reader of the hard secular view of the communist regime in China is NOT bashing, because facts are facts whether you like them or not.

Then again, I actually read the whole thing...

Unless: is the good doc referring to some future anti-China post that he somehow “knows” is going to be posted ?


5 posted on 12/18/2008 7:43:34 PM PST by Don W (People who think are a threat to socialism)
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To: Dr. Marten; robertvance
I must have missed the China-bashing too, though the quoted intro might lead one to think it's there. But the end:
However, times are changing and there is no question that the Chinese government has become much more tolerant of religion in the last decade. Who knows what might happen in another decade?
I'm not holding out any hopes but I hope to see my host from 2000 (a Christian) again next year and to find out how things fare for him.
6 posted on 12/18/2008 7:43:54 PM PST by sionnsar (Iran Azadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY)|http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/|RCongressIn2Years)
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To: robertvance
I'm sorry, but American Christmas cannot hold a candle to Chinese Christmas. I mean just look at it.

A fake Christmas tree decorated with miniature climbing Santas topped with a rainbow colored cow that blows bubble out of it's ass. Think it doesn't get anymore awesome? You would be wrong. Whats better than Christmas at home with family? Christmas outside with tens of thousands of people downtown engaging in a massive battle royale with inflatable bats and copious amounts of beer.


7 posted on 12/18/2008 8:28:57 PM PST by cmdjing
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To: sionnsar

I had two China threads open at the same time and commented on the wrong one.

That being said, China does a lot to control religious freedoms, but most people have the misconception that religion is banned altogether and it’s not. Things are improving and there is a LARGE growing Christian movement in China.

Good luck to them.


8 posted on 12/19/2008 4:13:12 AM PST by Dr. Marten (http://obamaclock.org/)
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To: cmdjing

But why are those bats reminiscent of the American flag?


9 posted on 12/19/2008 7:51:27 AM PST by sionnsar (Iran Azadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY)|http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/|RCongressIn2Years)
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To: sionnsar
But why are those bats reminiscent of the American flag?

I guess the manufacturer had made it overfull, they should be exported to America, so local seller sold them as colourful mushroom.
10 posted on 12/19/2008 8:58:25 AM PST by tgbhu
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To: robertvance

And they attend the Christmas day doesn’t mean they are Christian, most of them only for jollification.


11 posted on 12/19/2008 8:58:30 AM PST by tgbhu
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To: robertvance

A video about Christian in Chinese rural.
It’s fun, the pastor was wearing a uniform and gloves, he has a band.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvEuQ4R9AhI


12 posted on 12/19/2008 9:27:19 AM PST by tgbhu
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To: tgbhu

Actually, I would tend to disagree with that statement. That would certainly be true in America but here, I think that most Chinese people who go to church (whether house or government) on Christmas Day probably are Christians (or at least profess to be). It’s not like in the U.S. where EVERYBODY goes to church or ‘mass’ on major holidays.


13 posted on 12/19/2008 7:01:12 PM PST by robertvance
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To: tgbhu

I was wondering the same thing.


14 posted on 12/19/2008 7:02:34 PM PST by robertvance
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To: robertvance

In your essay, the words “Jingle Bells” brought back a memory from October 1984. On tour there, we visited an elementary school that was well prepared for the ‘foreign visitors’. The kids sang “Jingle Bells” for us, in English — to our pleasure and amusement.

In your present case, it sounds as if the students have come a long way from their parents, in that they openly discuss Christmas. And discuss it without fear.


15 posted on 12/19/2008 7:29:01 PM PST by Exit148 (Giants versus Jets? How 'bout a tie.)
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To: robertvance
Jing-roh bears, jing-roh bears
Jing-roh or the way

16 posted on 12/19/2008 7:32:38 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Everytime they open their mouth they shoot themselves in the foot.)
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To: robertvance

In the US everyone doesn’t go for Church mass on major holidays — or “services” at their local — there are quite a few Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Mormons etc. as well as atheists.


17 posted on 12/20/2008 8:47:32 PM PST by Cronos (Ceterum censeo, Mecca et Medina delenda est)
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